Jun 13, 2025
UK ETS emissions declined by 11% compared to the previous year in 2024.
Emissions in sectors included in the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS) fell by 11.5% year-over-year in 2024, according to data from the UK ETS authority, showing a slight slowdown in their decline compared to the previous year.
Stationary installations within the UK ETS emitted 76.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), down 12.9% from 2023. However, this was partly countered by a 2% rise in aviation emissions to 8.99 million tonnes CO2e.
Overall, emissions under the UK ETS have decreased for two consecutive years, with a 12.5% drop in 2023. Emissions increased by 2.5% in 2022 as a rebound in aviation post-Covid-19 restrictions outweighed the reduction in stationary emissions. Since the scheme's inception in 2021, stationary emissions have consistently decreased each year.
Most of the reduction in stationary emissions last year occurred in the power sector, where emissions fell by 18.2% to 30.6 million tonnes CO2e. The last coal-fired plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, closed in September, and the proportion of gas-fired output declined as wind, solar, and biomass production, along with electricity imports, rose.
Industrial emissions also dropped by 8.9% to 46.1 million tonnes CO2e, with the iron and steel sector seeing the largest relative decrease of 30% to 6.54 million tonnes CO2e. Emissions from crude extraction decreased by 6.4% to 6.0 million tonnes CO2e, while emissions from gas extraction, manufacturing, and distribution fell by 8.9% to 5.3 million tonnes CO2e. The chemicals sector emitted 2.28 million tonnes CO2e, down 5.2% from the previous year.
As of May 1, 43 installations had surrendered fewer carbon allowances than their total emissions since the UK ETS began, and two installations failed to report their emissions on time. The UK ETS authority stated that "appropriate enforcement action" would be taken against those operators who do not surrender the required allowances.
Overall greenhouse gas emissions in the UK economy decreased by 4% last year, as reported by the government in March, primarily due to lower gas and coal usage in the power and industry sectors, along with smaller reductions in transport and agriculture, which are not covered by the UK ETS, and an increase in emissions from buildings, also outside the scheme's scope.
Emissions under the EU ETS are projected to have declined by 4.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, based on preliminary data from the European Commission in April. Last month, the UK and EU announced plans to "work towards" linking their systems.
Stationary installations within the UK ETS emitted 76.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), down 12.9% from 2023. However, this was partly countered by a 2% rise in aviation emissions to 8.99 million tonnes CO2e.
Overall, emissions under the UK ETS have decreased for two consecutive years, with a 12.5% drop in 2023. Emissions increased by 2.5% in 2022 as a rebound in aviation post-Covid-19 restrictions outweighed the reduction in stationary emissions. Since the scheme's inception in 2021, stationary emissions have consistently decreased each year.
Most of the reduction in stationary emissions last year occurred in the power sector, where emissions fell by 18.2% to 30.6 million tonnes CO2e. The last coal-fired plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, closed in September, and the proportion of gas-fired output declined as wind, solar, and biomass production, along with electricity imports, rose.
Industrial emissions also dropped by 8.9% to 46.1 million tonnes CO2e, with the iron and steel sector seeing the largest relative decrease of 30% to 6.54 million tonnes CO2e. Emissions from crude extraction decreased by 6.4% to 6.0 million tonnes CO2e, while emissions from gas extraction, manufacturing, and distribution fell by 8.9% to 5.3 million tonnes CO2e. The chemicals sector emitted 2.28 million tonnes CO2e, down 5.2% from the previous year.
As of May 1, 43 installations had surrendered fewer carbon allowances than their total emissions since the UK ETS began, and two installations failed to report their emissions on time. The UK ETS authority stated that "appropriate enforcement action" would be taken against those operators who do not surrender the required allowances.
Overall greenhouse gas emissions in the UK economy decreased by 4% last year, as reported by the government in March, primarily due to lower gas and coal usage in the power and industry sectors, along with smaller reductions in transport and agriculture, which are not covered by the UK ETS, and an increase in emissions from buildings, also outside the scheme's scope.
Emissions under the EU ETS are projected to have declined by 4.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, based on preliminary data from the European Commission in April. Last month, the UK and EU announced plans to "work towards" linking their systems.